Exploring the
ORCHESTRA
French Horn
Musical Section:
Brass (Instruments that make sound when the player buzzes their lips into a mouthpiece, causing the instrument to vibrate. Other instruments in this family: trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba, euphonium.) . Other instruments in this family: Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba
About the French Horn
What it looks like
The French horn is a big, curly instrument made of brass. It looks like a big, curled tube and it often plays both melody and harmony. There are between 2 to 8 French horns in an orchestra.
The French horn is a brass instrument known for its beautiful, warm sound. The French horn makes a smooth, beautiful sound, and you can hear it in orchestras and bands. It is shiny and swirly and is fun to play!
Did you know? If you stretched it out, the French horn’s tubing would be about 12-13 feet long!
How to Play
Mini Maestro
You play the French horn by blowing air into the mouthpiece. To make different notes, you press different valves with your left hand.
Putting your right hand inside the big opening, you can adjust the tone.
If your lips buzz faster, you can play higher notes.
If they buzz slower, you can play lower notes.
Young Maestro
Hold the horn with your left hand on the valves (the buttons) and your right hand inside the bell (the big round opening).
Take a big breath and buzz your lips into the mouthpiece. The buzzing makes the horn vibrate and creates the sound.
To play different notes, you press different valves or change how fast your lips buzz.
If your lips buzz faster, you can play higher notes.
If they buzz slower, you can play lower notes.
Hey Horn, You're Early!
In Beethoven’s Third Symphony, something shocking happens around halfway through the first movement. The horn suddenly enters, playing the main theme by itself before the rest of the orchestra.
At the first rehearsal, everyone thought the horn player had made a mistake. But Beethoven told them the horn was right. Beethoven meant for the horn to come in by itself. He wanted the horn to sound like it was so excited to play the heroic theme, that it jumped in before the rest of the orchestra!
